THE KINGLESS LAND

First of a fantasy series from the creator of the Forgotten Realms empire of yarns and role-playing games. The land of Aglirta is in bad shape, seething with warriors, wizards, ambitious noblemen, and monsters. Wicked, ambitious Baron Faerod Silvertree wants to turn his beautiful, wizardly stepdaughter Embra into a Living Castle. Luckily, along come two larcenous outlaws'they formerly served Baron Blackgult, whom Faerod defeated'the huge warrior Hawkril and the nimble thief Craer. All three escape Silvertree Castle despite the efforts of the baron’s wizards. After various adventures, shape-shifting healer Sarasper joins them. Now, as the Band of Four (gasp!), they agree to seek out the powerfully magical Dwaerindim stones and use their powers to waken Aglirta’s Sleeping King. The various contending barons, however, order their wizards to search for the Dwaerindim too. And Faerod, in a rage, orders his minions to snatch Embra at all costs. Eventually, after numerous reversals, spells, battles, tortures, betrayals, shrieks, moans, gulps, and whatnot, the parties converge on a ruined library. Here, Embra hopes to find the Stone of Life, but she clashes with some snaky types, servants of the Ssserpent, seeking the Stone of War. Not to mention the mysterious Koglar, who, unseen, observe everything and sometimes interfere. Energetic but generically half-witted (“It was his turn for lips to twist on the edge of a curse,' etc.), with concept, style, and visualization all murmuring “computer-game.”